Foot correctional device



May 26,1942. M. s. cmssy 2,283,917

FOOT CORRECTIONAL DEVICE .Filed Dec. 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M /N/gc/z/TOR 55%@ Msi rroR/vfy May 26, 1942. M. s. cRlssY *2,283,917

' l FOOT COBRECTIONAL DEVICE Filed DeC. 28, 1940 2 Sheets-5118?. 2

/NVENTQR @ro/755201983 5%@ JIM-K grl/VE'Y Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOT CORREGTIONAL DEVICE VMyron S. Crissy, Dedham, Mass. Application December 28, 1940, Serial No. 372,067

13 Claims. (Cl. 36-71) Y (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended Aprl30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) This invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.l y

This invention relates to foot correctional devices, more particularly it is directed to devices of this character for supporting the tarsal and metatarsal bones of the foot either separately or in combination. Y

One of the objects of the invention is to provide devices'for supporting the tarsal and metatarsal bones of thefoot either separately or in combination which-'devices are adapted to be readily inserted into standard shoes or directly thereof and a tape secured at one end thereto for attaching said elevating member to the foot under the tarsal or metatarsal bones, whereby said bones are supported regardless of any footwear.

Other objects of the invention are to provide tarsal and metatarsal supports either separately or in combination, which supports are cheap to construct, simple in operation, efcient in use and which will cushionly support the tarsal or metatarsal bones of the" foot and at the same time permit free action of the foot.

'I'here are two general classes of foot troubles arising from strain or weakness of the ligaments the longitudinal or arch supporting ligaments, or of the transverse or binding fascia. Fallen arches and pronation, or inward and forward rotation of the foot, are caused from strain or weakness of the longitudinal or arch supporting ligaments and anterior metatarsalgia or pain in the forward metatarsal region 'is caused from strain or weakness of the transverse or bindingfascia which allows the metartarsal bones to drop slightly so that their forward round ends pinch between them certain nerves.

The trouble being mechanical, the relief can be mechanical. Support of the inner Acuneiform bones of the tarsus and of the inner metatarsals vapplied to the foot to mitigate against foot l5 will relieve the suierer, and so tend to remedy troubles, such as anterior matatarsalgiasuiered the longitudinal arCll trOubleS- SuppOrt and by a, great many people and to give Comfort; `and 'Separation Of the Shanks 0f the llIlel' metatalsals relief to thewearer thereof; will prevent the nerve pinch due to the drop of Another object 0f the invention is to provide the SCi-Called transverse vO11 alSe arch, relieve tarsal and metatarsal supports either separately the sufferer frOm anterior metatarealga arid pr0- in combination to be worn in a shoe or appliedY mOte natureS Cure of the Condition. directly to the foot or stocking, said supports in- It is therefore the aim and `purpose of this cluding a somewhat iiexiole subsole havingV a irlVeIltiOrl t0 prOViCle Supports fOr the tarSal and topo provided thereon when the Subsolo is 1go be inner metatarsal bones of the foot used either applied directly to the foot, one or more elevat- Separately 0r irlV COmlOirlatiOrl OI relieving the ing memo-ors mounted undef Said subsole and above mentioned troubles suffered when the ligameans adapted to readily and variably adjust the ments that held the f00t beriee iu plaee have beheight of the elevating members for causing said @Ome strained 0r weakenedsubsole to bulge smoothly upward under the 'in- With the abOVe and Other Objects and advanner cuniform bones of the tarsals or under the be tages in VeW the uVerltOn COnSStS 0f Certain shanksfof themetatarsm bones of the foot, to features of Construction and operation of parts raise not only said bones, but cause a tendency Which Will hereinafter appear and in WhChfor the metatarsal bones to spread apart slightly Fig- 1 iS a bOttOm plan View 0f One form of at their forward ends and soprevent nerve pinchmetatareal Support embodying the invention for ing that Causes anterior metatarsalgia use in. a, Shoe ShOWIl in bl'Oken lines and includ- Another object of the invention is to provide ing a Substantially fleXble Subsole having an tarsal or metatarsal supports adapted to be dieleVatIlg member mounted thereunder and rectly applied to the foot or overa stocking, said means fOr readily and Varably adjusting the supports including 'an elevating member, means helght 0f the elevating member for causing the adapted to readily and variably adjustthe height 4o SubSOle to bulge smoothly upward under the Shanks of the Ametatarsal bones of the foot, thereby not only raising the said bones but causing a tendency for them to spread apart slightly at theirforward ends andV so prevent the nerve pinching that causes anterior metatarsalgia;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, illustrating the manner the support engages a permanent inner sole shown in broken lines of a shoe with the means for yincreasing the height of the ele'- vating member removed therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal side view of a flexible member which may be used in adjusting the height of the elevating member of the support;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the metatarsal that hold the foot bones in place, that is, either support showing the elevating member being enA gaged by the flexible member for increasing the height thereof with the support operatively positioned on the permanent inner sole 0f a shoe;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the metatarsal support taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of an endless member which may also be used for increasing the height of the elevating member;

Fig. '7 is a bottom plan View of a modied form which the invention may take for use in a shoe shown in broken lines to support the longitudinal or arch supporting ligaments of the-foot either separately or in combination with a metatarsal support.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a another modified form of a combined tarsal and metatarsal support including a short sole piece which does not reach under the heel and a tape connected atY one end thereto for applying the combined tarsal and metatarsal support directly to the foot or over a stocking regardless of footwear;

Fig. l0 is a top plan View of a single elevating member without a subsole for use on a foot to support either the tarsal or metatarsal bones of the foot regardless of footwear and having a tape connected thereto for securing the elevating member to the foot; and

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof taken on the lines lI-II of Fig. l0.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing the invention, there is shown in Figs. 1, 2, l and 5 one form of metatarsal support comprising a subsole VI which is made of any suitable somewhat flexible cushion material such as leather and including a rear portion 2 adapted to engage the heel portion 3 of a permanent inner sole 4 of a shoe 5 shown in dotted lines and a front portion 6 adapted to engage the shank 'I of the shoe.

Intermediate the sides 8 and 8 of the front portion 6 of the subsole I and closely adjacent to the other end of the subsole is an elevating member 9 secured to the subsole by any suitable means such as by a rivet I!) and washer II. The elevating member 9 may be made of any suitable flexible or elastic material such as leather or rubber and could be in the form of a disk but is preferably formed in the shape of a spherical segment having some rigidity or in other words the elevating member has a convex or rounded outer surface I2 and a substantially flat lower surface I3. The cuter surface I2 of the elevating member abuts at its center against i the lower surface of the subsole I and the substantially at lower surface I3 thereof is adapted to Contact with the upper surface of the permanent inner sole 4 of the shoe.

The elevating member 9 may be readily and variably adjusted in height for causing the subsole I to bulge smoothly upward under the shanks of the metatarsal bones or the tarsal bones of the longitudinal arch of the foot by means of a flexible strand or freely bendable member I4, thereby not only raising the said bones but causing a tendency for them to spread apart slightly at their forward ends and so prevent the nerve pinching that causes anterior metatarsalgia. The flexible strand or freely bendable member I4 is made of any suitable type of material such as lacing, yarn or twine having ends I5, with one of the ends connected to the elevating member 9, as illustrated in Fig. 1, or the flexible strand I4 may be disconnected therefrom as in Figs. 3 and 5 and then applied to the elevating member. An endless member I6 such as a rubber band, as illustrated in Fig. 6, may be substituted for the flexible strand or member I4.

In order to support the tarsal bones of the longitudinal arch of the foot or of both the tarsal and metatarsal bones in combination by the use of one or more elevating members of the same or similar type employing the same method of adjustment for height, the invention may take the form illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, wherein a plurality of elevating members I1 which may be in the same form as the elevating member 9 of the rst mentioned metatarsal support or in the form of disks are suitably mounted at their centers adjacent to the side 8 of the subsole I' which lits the inside of the shoe whereby the inner cuneiform bones of the tartus of thefoot may be supported. The elevating members I'I are substantially arranged in alignment with each other longitudinally of the subsole I and are adapted to be elevated by a single flexible strand I8 which is wrapped around the elevating members I1 in various ways and a variable number of times by the wearer to vary the nature and amount of support to meet the particular requirements.

If it is desired to support the metatarsal bones of the foot at the same time as the tarsal bones with the device illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, an elevating member I9 is provided on the subsole I' in combination with the elevating members I'I, which elevating member I9 may be adjusted in height by the same flexible strand I8 for adjusting the height of the elevating members I1 or by an independent flexible strand 20. 'I'he elevating member I9 may be omitted if desired.

Foot troubles are not always bilateral, that is, in both feet, but Where one heel is raised by the subsole I of a tarsal or metatarsal support, the other heel should be raised equally or the horizontality of the pelvis is destroyed thereby possibly giving rise to other trouble. It is undesirable to wear an unnecessary support under a good foot and a nuisance to provide a dummy, therefore in order to prevent this, another modied form of combined tarsal and metatarsal support may be provided, as illustrated in Fig. 9, comprising a short sole piece 2I which does not reach under the heel of the foot, a combined tarsal and metatarsal elevating member 22 made of any suitable material and having a substantially irregular or T-shaped formation including a longitudinally extending portion 23 suitably secured at its center as indicated at 24 to the solepiece 2I, thereby providing free ends 25 thereon. Ear portionsI 26 are provided on the lower end of the combined tarsal and metatarsal elevating member 22, which ear portions 26 are suitably secured at their centers as indicated at 2'I. A tape 28 preferably of nonelastic material having one end secured to the combined tarsal and metatarsal elevating member 22 is provided for detachably fastening the solepiece 2I to the foot regardless of any footwear. By winding a flexible strand 29 around the free ends 25 of the elevating member 22 and the ear portions 26 thereof in various Ways, a greater or less number of times, different adjustments of the free ends 25 and the ear portions 26 of the elevating member 22 may be obtained to vary the nature and anrount of support to meerI the particular requirements of the combined tarsal and metatarsal support.

A tape type of a single modified form of tarsal or metatarsal support is illustrated in Figs. and 1l, and comprises upper and lower portions and 3I respectively in the form of disks which are secured together at their centers in any suitable manner such as by the threads 32. A tape 33 is attached at one end to the lower portion 3| of the support. By winding a fiexible 'strand 34 between the upper and lower portions 30 and 3| of the support, an encircling wedge is provided for variably contracting the portions 30 and 3l whereby the single tarsal or metatarsal support can be readily and variably adjusted to the height desired to meet the particular requirements.

In using the improved metatarsal support illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, it will be understood that it is to be made in various sizes to nt different sizes of shoes. If and after it has been determined that the minimum height of the device gives insufficient support to the metatarsal bones to prevent the pain, the flexible strand I4, as in Figs. 1 and 3, or the endless member or band I6 as in Fig. 6, is tightly wound around between the subsole I and the upper surface of the elevating member 9, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 beginning at the central inner portion thereof which engages the subsole. By tightly winding the members I4 or I6 between the subsole and the upper surface of the elevating member 9, an encircling wedge is provided which causes the elevating member 9 to contract inwardly forcing the outer peripheral edge I1 thereof downwardly, thus increasing the height of the elevating member and causing it to have a substantially converging concavoconvex shape which when applied to the permanent inner sole 4 of the shoe may produce a suction effect for retaining the metatarsal support thereon. The height of the elevating member 9 may be regulated to various degrees, depending on the extent to which the metatarsal bones have fallen by winding more or less of the strand I4 or band I6 thereon.

After the height of the elevating member 9 has been adjusted to suit individual needs, the metatarsal support (which is illustrated as being for the left foot) is positioned within the shoe in such a manner as to bring the portion of the subsole above the elevating memgber beneath the irmer portion of the instep of the foot or in other words, the elevating member is caused to underlie the portion of the subsole I which underlies the metatarsal bones which tends to better elevate them and prevents sagging thereof at this point. When a shoe is worn in which the front portion 6 of the subsole I has been raised by the elevating member 9 the weight of the wearer will cause the subsole to adjust itself laterally to the extent required to correct a tendency to throw the weight toward the inside of the foot which adds materially to the comfort of the wearer. The subsole I is preferably beveled at the edges of the sides 8 and 8' thereof to avoid an abutting ridge along the side of the foot and also around the front edge, which must stop just behind the ball of the foot, to avoid any ridge there, the remaining portion of the subsole being of suil- `cient thickness to prevent buckling or wrinkling of the subsole under the foot.

The elevating members I1 on the device illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 for supporting the tarsal bones of the foot which may be used in combination with the elevating member VI9 for supporting the metatarsal bones at the same time, are adjusted in height in the same manner as the elevating member 9 illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, except that if and when it has been determined that the minimum height of the device gives insuflicient support to the tarsal bones of the longitudinal arch of the foot'to prevent pain, the single flexible strand I8 i'stightly wrapped around between the subsole I and the upper surface of the elevating members I1 in various ways thus providing an encircling wedge.

members to be variably contracted inwardly and variably increased in height to meet the particular requirements of the wearer.

The tape types of tarsal and metatarsal sup-` ports illustrated in Figs. 9 to 1l inclusive, may be used on the bare foot or over a stocking and the same one may be used on either foot. use the combined tarsal and metatarsal support illustrated in Fig. 9, the flexible strand 29 is tightly Wound around the free ends 25 of the longitudinally extending portion 23 and the ear portions 26 in various ways to contract them inwardly and increases in the height thereof whereby the nature and 'amount of support is varied to meet the particular requirements. After the combined tarsal and metatarsal support has been adjusted to meet the particular requirements, it is placed on the foot and the tape 28 is then lightly wrapped around the `foot and given a half turn over each time it passes the inner edge of the foot. The free end of the tape is then tucked under the last turn thereof preferably Vunder the foot.

The tape type of metatarsal support `illustrated in Figs. 10 and 1l after having been adjusted in height by the flexible strand 34 is placed against the sole of the foot just back of the round ends of the metatarsal bones and between their Shanks and the tape 33 is wrapped lightly around the outside of the foot, and over the elevating member thus covering it. lIwo or three succeeding turns of the tape are spread so that they overlap, making in all a wrappingabout the foot substantially one and a half inches wide. The end of the tape is then tucked under the last turn preferably under the sole of the foot.

In the above mentioned type of supports having a tape connected thereto, the heel part is not raised way Aout of the shoe, so loosening the shoe on the foot; and if but one foot be affected, it is necessary to purchase one support. This type of support takes up the minimum of space in the shoeland s0 can be worn by women in slippers where a subsole type of support would spoil the fit of the slipper or shoe, or be otherwise objectionable. It may be worn in a moccasin or in a rubber boot, as it is independent of the inner sole of the foot gear.

Either the subsole or the tape type of support wear on either foot, the subsole type must be made and worn on either the right or left foot.

It will thus be seen that there is herein provided novel tarsal and metatarsal supports which may be either used separately or in comblnation with each other such as a metatarsal support which may be in the form of a subsole havingY an elevating member mounted thereon, as illustrated in Figs. 1,.2, 4 and 5, or in the form a combined tarsal and metatarsal support including a subsole and a plurality of elevating members mounted thereon, as in Figs. '7 and 8, or a combined tarsal and metatarsal support including a short sole piece having one or moreelevating members thereon and a tape as illustrated in Fig. 9, also an elevating member and tape without a subsole as illustrated. in Figs. and 1l and other combinations. of the above.

Even though there has been herein described and shown certain, features of construction and operation of parts it isnevertheless to be under.- stood that various changes may be made therein if the changes do not depart from the claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A metatarsal support adapted to ben worn in a shoe, said support including an upper section of a substantially exible subsole, an elevating member mounted under said` subsole; andv a strand adapted to variably increase the height of said elevating member for bulging. said subsole smoothly upward under the Shanks of the metatarsal bones of a foot.

2. A metatarsal -support adapted to be worn in a shoe, said support including an upper section of a substantially exible subsole, an elevating member mounted under said subsole and iiexible means adapted to change the formation and variably increase the height of said elevating member for bulging said subsole smoothly upward under the shanks of the metatarsal bones of a foot.

3. A metatarsal support adapted to be worn on a foot, said support including an elevating member, means for securing said elevating member to the foot and a exible strand adapted to variably increase the height of said elevating member.

4. A tarsal support adapted to be Worn in a shoe, said support including a substantially nexible subsole, a plurality of elevating members mounted under said subsole and a single iiexible member adapted to readily and variably increase the height of said elevating members for bulging said subsole smoothly upward under the tare sal bones of the longitudinal arch of the foot.

5. A combined tarsal and metatarsal support adapted to be worn in a shoe, said support including a substantially iiexible subsole, a plurality of elevating members mounted under said subsole, certain of said elevating members adapted to support the tarsal bones of the longitudinal arch of the foot and other of said elevating members adapted to support the metatarsal bones of the foot and a single member adapted to variably increase the height of said elevating members for bulging said subsole smoothly upward under the tarsal bones of the longitudinal arch of the foot, and under the Shanks of the metatarsal bones of the foot.

6. A tarsal support adapted to be worn on the foot, said support including a substantially ilexible solepiece, elevating members mounted under said solepiece, a tape connected at one end to the solepiece and adapted to secure the tarsal support on the foot and a strand adapted to readily and variably increase the height of said elevating members for bulging said subsole smoothly upward under the tarsal bones of the longitudinal. arch of the foot.

7..A bone, support. adapted` to be worn in a shoe; said support including an upper section of a substantially iiexible subsole, an elevating member mounted. under said subsole, and means adapted to forman encircling wedge between said elevating member and subsole to increase the height of said elevating member, for bulging said subsole smoothly upward under the bones of a foot.

8;. A bone support adapted to be worn in a shoe, said support including an upper section of a substantially exible subsole, an elevating member in the form of a peripheral segment mounted under said subsole and means adapted to form an encircling wedge between said elevating member and subsole to increase the height` of said elevating member for bulging said subsole smoothly under the bones of a foot.

9. A bone support adapted to be worn in a shoe, said 4support including an upper section of a substantially flexible subsole, an elevating member mounted under said subsole and a band adapted to variably increase the height of said elevating member for bulging said subsole smoothly upward under the bones of a foot.

10. Abone support adapted to be worn in a shoe, said support including an upper section of a substantially flexible subsole, an elevating member mounted under said subsole, an elastic stra-nd adapted to variably increase the height of said elevating member for bulging said subsole smoothly upward under the bones of a foot.

1 1. A bone support adapted to be worn on a foot, said support comprising a pair of disk members joined together at their centers, means adapted to form. an encircling wedge between said members to contract said members and increase the height thereof, and means for securing said support to the foot.

12. A combined tarsal and metatarsal support adapted to be worn on a foot, said support comprising a substantially flexible subsole, a exible member including portions secured at a plurality of points to said subsole, means for securing said subsole to the foot, and means adapted to varably contract said portions of said member to increase the height thereof` for bulging different portionsof said subsole smoothly upward under the tarsal and metatarsal bones of the foot.

13. A bone support adapted to be worn in a shoe, said support including an upper section of a. substantially flexible subsole, an elevating member in the form of` a peripheral segment mounted under said subsole and means adapted to be wound between said elevating member and subsole forming an encircling Wedge therebetween, whereby said elevating member is contracted to increase the height thereof for bulging said subsole smoothly upward under the bones of the foot and causing said elevating member to have a substantially converging concavo-convex shape adapted to produce a suction eiect, for retaining the support on a permanent inner sole of theY shoe.

MYRON S. CRISSY. 

